Controversial report states that contraception should be covered under health care reform law

Controversial report states that contraception should be covered under health care reform law

A new report released by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) highlights eight additional services for women that it believes should be covered under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The most controversial assertion made in the report is that women should receive free contraception services under the law.

The IOM recommends that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) add eight provisions to the Affordable Care Act to protect and support the health and wellness of women. The report claims that due to gender-specific conditions and reproductive concerns, women end up paying more out of pocket than men.

The IOM report states that all standard health insurance rates should cover Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization and pregnancy counseling.

The president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Cecile Richards, spoke on the IOM report.

"Millions of women, especially young women, struggle every day to afford prescription birth control," he said. "Today's recommendation brings us a step closer to ensuring that all newly insured women under the health care reform law will have access to prescription birth control without out-of-pocket expenses."